Neighbourhood Planning
Parish plans
Neighbourhood planning is well established in
Maidstone Borough’s rural areas as a means for local communities to
identify the facilities and services they require. These community
led action plans – known as Parish Plans – have resulted in new
community centres, play areas, youth clubs, skate parks, activities
for elderly people, road safety measures, purchased community
woodlands – even prevented the loss of post office services. They
have resulted in substantial inward investment in the form of
grants but also increased spending by the public bodies. A
study in 2006 by Action for Communities in Rural Kent (ACRK)
estimated that four parish plans in Maidstone Borough had resulted
in £380,000 of inward investment within just two years from an
initial investment (in developing the plans) of just £5-10,000.
Maidstone borough parish
plans:
* denotes external website
Maidstone 2020
However, where there are no parish councils, in
the town and suburbs of Maidstone an equivalent of parish plans has
not been widely developed - up until now. The Sustainable
Community Strategy ‘Maidstone 2020’ the strategy for the
community identified that: ‘Approximately 11% of Maidstone’s
population live within areas which are amongst the most
disadvantaged 20% in the country. The issues faced by residents in
these areas are manifested in a number of different ways and the
economic downturn is likely to exacerbate these. For this reason it
is necessary to bring together a group or groups to examine and
tackle the problems and opportunities that exist in these areas.
The council and its partners are therefore looking at an approach
of neighbourhood planning in conjunction with the residents for
these areas of high need including parts of: Park Wood, Shepway
North and South and High Street Wards, but also in adjoining and
some outlying areas where new data is demonstrating higher levels
of need.
Urban neighbourhood action planning
As a result, a pilot Neighbourhood Action Plan,
utilising Planning for Real (registered trademark) has been
developed in Park Wood by the borough council with local residents
and the support of Kent County Council, Golding Homes (formerly
Maidstone Housing Trust), Kent Police and other local partners. The
plan was adopted by Maidstone Borough Council's Cabinet at its
meeting on 10th November and is now available:
Park Wood Neighbourhood Action Plan 2010-15.
Since its agreement in November 2010 the
action plan has resulted in improved estate cleaning, streamlined
measures to tackle noisy neighbours and a job shop and training
programme for young people. Additional activities have been
organised for children and young people such as Be Free at the
park. Further work has also been carried out to explore some of the
underlying issues in the area with workshops on health, teenage
pregnancy, unemployment, education and skills and new actions
developed. A new What’s On Guide has been published.
Now £50,000 has been secured by the borough
council to make some environmental improvements on council owned
property within Park Wood and residents are helping to choose how
the money is to be spent. The favoured projects are: new CCTV at
the parade of shops, improving areas adjacent to the parade, a
mini-ball park (cage) to the rear of the shops, a dog free picnic
area at the community centre Heather House and motorcycle barriers
to the park. There is a shortfall in the funding so residents are
being asked to list their top priorities. Additional funding is
expected next year from nearby housing developments for a new skate
and BMX park. All the projects will provide training and
volunteering opportunities for local residents and young
people.
To find out more contact the Community Development Team: 01622
602222.
Email jimboot@maidstone.gov.uk
or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/maidstonebc